Panel light assembly

ABSTRACT

A panel light assembly having two embodiments, one of which employs a translucent receptacle-filter, which is colored for filtering having horizontally extending electrical contacts extending beyond the outside surface and in proximity to first and second recesses in the inner surface of the receptacle, the receptacle-filter being dimensioned for receiving a lamp having pliable leads extending toward the top of the receptacle-filter and a resilient wedge member dimensioned for a press fit within the recesses pressing the flexible leads of the lamp against the electrical contacts; a second embodiment wherein a base is provided with first and second electrical contacts passing therethrough being dimensioned for receiving the pliable leads of a lamp thereon and a cap-filter which is translucent and utilized as a filter dimensioned for receiving the lamp thereon and having recesses dimensioned for a press fit around the ends of the electrical contacts thereby pressing the pliable leads against the electrical contacts.

United States Patent [72] lnventor [54] PANEL LIGHT ASSEMBLY 1 Claim, 3Drawing Figs.

{52], US. Cl 240/8J6, 339/176, 240/52, 240/152, 248/27 [51] 1nt.Cl11011'13/50 [50] Field of Search 240/21, 8.16, 52, 52.1,151,152;339/176L, 145; 248/27 3,473,015 10/1969 Haasetal. .11. 240/8.l6X

OTHER REFERENCES IBM TECHNICAL DlSCLOSURE BULLETIN V01. 3 N0. 3 August1960 339/176 L Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews AssistantExaminer-Alan Mathews Attorney-Richard K. Macneill ABSTRACT: A panellight assembly having two embodi ments, one of which employs atranslucent receptacle-filter, which is colored for filtering havinghorizontally extending electrical contacts extending beyond the outsidesurface and in proximity to first and second recesses in the innersurface of the receptacle, the receptacle-filter being dimensioned forreceiving a lamp having pliable leads extending toward the top of thereceptacle-filter and a resilient wedge member dimensioned for a pressfit within the recesses pressing the flexible leads of the lamp againstthe electrical contacts; a second embodiment wherein a base is providedwith first and second electrical contacts passing therethrough beingdimensioned for receiving the pliable leads of a lamp thereon and acapfilter which is translucent and utilized as a filter dimensioned forreceiving the lamp thereon and having recesses dimensioned for a pressfit around the ends of the electrical contacts thereby pressing thepliable leads against the electrical contacts.

PATENTED JUL 6 I971 INVENTOR.

JACK D. MQKIM PANEL LIGHT ASSEMBLY BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a panel light assembly and moreparticularly to a panel light assembly having replaceable lamps.

Prior art panel light assemblies having replaceable lamps have beenplagued with two main disadvantages. Both of these disadvantages stemfrom the complex contact systems employed which result in excessiveexpense and physical size. According to the invention, a panellightassembly is provided which in one embodiment utilizes a filter as areceptacle for receiving a lamp having pliable electrical leadsextending therefrom. A pair of electrical contacts are imbedded withinthe walls of the receptacle extending both to the inside surface andbeyond the outside surface thereof. A pair of recesses is provided inthe inner walls of the receptacle and in proximity to the electricalcontacts. When the lamp is placed within the receptacle, its pliableleads can be aligned across the top of the opening of the recesses and aresilient wedge member is press fit into the recesses wedging theelectrical leads from the lamp against the electrical contacts imbeddedinto the receptacle. Should the lamp burn out, the wedge member isremoved allowing easy replacement of the lamp itself.

A second embodiment utilizes a base member having electrical contactsimbedded therein and extending above and below the base member. Thecontacts are dimensioned for receiving a lamp on the top surfacesthereof and for wrapping the leads across and around the contacts. Afilter dimensioned for fitting over the lamp as a cap having recessesfor cooperation with the outer surfaces of the electrical contacts isthen snapped over the lamp, the contacts press fitting the lamp leadsagainst the contacts. When the lamp burns out, the filter can be removedleaving the lamp completely accessible for replacement.

An object of the present invention is a provision of a panel lightassembly in which the lamp is easily replaceable.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a panellight assembly in which electrical contact is made between the lampleads and the electrical contacts by a press fit.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a panellight assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture and extremely simpleto install.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a panellight assembly which is relatively small in physical size.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which like referencenumerals designate like parts throughout the FIGS. thereof and wherein:

FIG 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an assembled view in cross section of another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, a receptacle11 has a pair of contacts 12 and 13 passing therethrough incommunication with a pair of recesses 14 and 16, respectively, in theinner walls of receptacle-filter 11. Lamp 17 has an envelope 18 with afilament 19 and a pair of electrical leads 21 and 22 extendingtherefrom. Resilient wedge member 23 has a pair of gripping surfaces 24and 26 adapted to be gripped by pliers 27. Surface 25 of wedge member 23is preferably coated with a reflective coating for reflecting lighttoward receptacle-filter 11.

Referring to FIG. 2, filter 11 has lamp 17 therein with electrical leads21 and 22 in communication with contacts 12 and 13. Wed e member 23 ispress fit within recesses 14 and 16 holding e ectrical leads 21 and 22against electrical leads 12 OPERATION Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2,it can be seen that the diameter of the entire assembly is onlyincreased over the diameter of the lamp itself by the thickness of thewalls of filter 11 (these, of course, have been exaggerated in theinterest of clarity). After the lamp 17 is placed within the filter 11,the leads being very pliable are placed in proximity with contacts 12and 13 and recesses 14 and 16. The wedge member 23 is then flexed bypliers 27 applying pressure to surfaces 24 and 26 until it will fitwithin filter 11 whereupon by releasing pliers 27, it will flex intorecesses 14 and 16 creating a positive electrical connection withelectrical connectors 12 and 13. The connectors 12 and 13 are thenfurther connected to a suitable electrical source for lighting lamp 17.When it is necessary to remove lamp 17, pressure is again applied viapliers at surfaces 24 and 26 flexing resilient member 23 into adimension whereby it can be removed from filter 11. At this time,replacement of lamp 17 is obviously quite simple.

Referring back to FIG. 3, when lamp 17 is to be replaced, filter 32 iseasily snapped off since both it and electrical contacts 29 and 31 aresomewhat resilient. This will expose lamp 17 and render it easilyreplaceable after which filter 32 is snapped back into place as shown;Here, again, the diameter of the entire assembly is increased over thelamp diameter by the thickness of the walls of cap 32. Recesses 14, 16,33 and 34 could each be formed as one annular groove onthe insidesurface of filter 32.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only a preferred embodiment of the inven tion and that it isintended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of theinvention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do notconstitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A panel light assembly comprising:

an electrical lamp having pliable electrical leads extending therefrom;

a translucent filter member dimensioned for receiving said lamp therein,said filter member having first and second recesses for receiving saidpliable electrical leads;

first and second electrical contacts extending radially from saidtranslucent filter member in proximity to said first and secondrecesses; and

a resilient insulative wedge member received by said first and secondrecesses for pressing said first and second leads against said first andsecond electrical contacts.

1. A panel light assembly comprising: an electrical lamp having pliableelectrical leads extending therefrom; a translucent filter memberdimensioned for receiving said lamp therein, said filter member havingfirst and second recesses for receiving said pliable electrical leads;first and second electrical contacts extending radially from saidtranslucent filter member in proximity to said first and secondrecesses; and a resilient insulative wedge member received by said firstand second recesses for pressing said first and second leads againstsaid first and second electrical contacts.